KALAMAZOO, MI — By the looks of the blackened headstones — some sinking in the soil — one may have assumed that the 500 World War II veterans buried in the Kalamazoo Riverside Cemetery had been forgotten.

Grateful readers, some who noticed a polished late family member's gravesite, were pleased and praised the 16-year-old for his time after the story was published on Saturday.

EV759 said his father and brother's grave sites were impacted by Ian's efforts.

"Thank you so much Ian and all those who helped. Both my father and my brother are buried in the Veterans plot in Riverside. Every year the conditions there have been very distressing, it did seem like no one cared. This year I was surprised and so very grateful that the headstones were clean and the flagpole and area were restored. As a very senior citizen I was delighted to see that there are those growing up who care and will not forget. Again, thank you!!"

BarbV brought flowers to her grandfather's site and was pleased to see it cleaned.

"I just want to say thank you, Ian! My grandfather's stone was one of the ones you cleaned and raised. I was there today to plant flowers and it looks great! I've been trying to get a new stone for him for a couple years now and getting the run-around from the federal government because all his service records were destroyed in a fire. The fact that the man has been buried as a veteran since 1940 didn't seem to matter to them, I was required to prove again that he was a veteran! It was very distressing to me to see the awful condition his stone was in and not be able to do anything about it, but you just stepped in out of the blue and took care of it! Please accept the heartfelt thanks from me and my family!"

Nancy Krempa said Wales took care of a task her family had pushed aside for years.

"To Ian, Doug, and all who pitched in to help: I cannot properly express my thanks for all your efforts in mere words, but they are all I have. My sister has been trying to restore our grandfather's headstone for years, but to no avail... and you just stepped in and took care of it. She forwarded me this link and told me how wonderful Grandpa's headstone looks now. I am so grateful!
On behalf of myself, my mother, my sisters and my children, thank you from the very bottom of my heart!!! What a wonderful service project on this day when we remember all those who gave of themselves to keep our country safe and preserve freedom for future generations. Again, many, MANY thanks!!"

Other readers just gave a simple "Bravo" or "Thank You." It's safe to say, based on reader response, Wales made his community proud.